Should chuggers be allowed to target the financially vulnerable?

frivolous_fay

I'll add another to the list - if you're very obviously trying to give them a wide berth, they should not approach you regardless!

savemoney

I avoid anyone in high street who stands around with clip boards, or looks like they are after something. Its a shame because some maybe asking you to sign a petition or something, I just want to avoid any sort of conversation/conflict with anyone of the chuggers demanding money or making you feel guilty. I give to charity in my own terms to charities I like and when I have some money. I would NEVER give my bank details out to anyone is the street you never know who they are they could be a scammer

I do feel some guilt but I shouldn't have to be I a not against charities I am against how some of them raise there money and or spend it on too much admin

lynzpower

.She didn't want to give me cash because she wanted me to have some new clothes, not spend the money paying off my debts- it was a gift, so it was up to her. Not that it was any of his business anyway, but it's the kind of response that makes me feel quite strongly about this.

I totally get you. I agree.

The other day one came up to us and gave us the hard sell. the usual 'im unemployed' didnt cut it and this guy started ranting on about how if we only gave up 'one coffee a qweek each' I said Im unemployed, we dont drink coffee out' and then he started ranting on abou the price of a pint each and I practically yelled at him 'Listen mate, we dont go out: we cant afford to go out, what about that dont you get?"

He proceeded to patronise me to the Nth degree by saying I didnt understand about international debt ( actually I do) and that i had a comfortable life compared to the starving millions. I agreed, but told him we used the contents of our copper jar to buy food for the week and there was NOTHING LEFT.

This interlude went on for a lot longer than I was happy with.

However, more disturbingly I have seen chuggers in action in suits with clipboards in POUNDLAND of all places. I heard the guys accosting customers as they were browsing and as one headed my way I put the basket down and walked out.

Coming to a store near you I fear.

eezer

Metropolitan Police guidance on charity street collections states:

"No collection shall be in such a manner as to cause, or be likely to cause, danger, obstruction, inconvenience or annoyance to any person."

Yet because they are not actually collecting cash the chuggers seem to be allowed to get away with causing all of the above. They're no different than someone selling double glazing, religion, gas/electric and Sky TV - at least with them there's no attempt to make you feel guilty for ignoring the suffering of someone else. And as to why anyone would give their bank details to a complete stranger in the street just because they say they are from Save the Children etc is beyond me...

Should be banned.

Oldernotwiser

I don't think I would class students as a particularly vulnerable group.

hello_sunshine

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I don't think I would class students as a particularly vulnerable group.

Financially vulnerable.

Limited experience of money management. Little, sporadic or no income. Unsecured debts. Whether you like students or not, I refer to my earlier point about borrowing money to give it away, i.e. that it's pretty daft.

Techhead_2

I often wonder if the charities who employ these chuggers realise the damage they do to their reputation?

They either need to control them much more closely or go back to using volunteers.

Androcles

1. Completely ignore them. Look the other way. It is very difficult for them if you show no reaction to their presence whatsoever, as the only way they can then get your attention is to assault you!

2. If you get caught, just ask them how much they are making out of any "sale" and say that they are taking food out of the mouths of the starving children/ fluffy animals/ etc... and should be ashamed of themselves, whatever happened to volunteering, etc.

Personally I can't stand them and have no time for them. I give to the charities I want to give to, in the amount I can afford, and at the time I decide . If they don't like it, tough! My conscience is clear.

Aquatronixjenny

I totally agree with the OP. Some of the behaviour is outrageous. Dogs trust used to be camped outside our local Morrisons, and I mean they would block the entrance and stop you from getting in unless you spoke to them. Now Dogs Trust is one of the charities I do donate to occasionally, either by buying a bag of dog food and putting it in the donation bin in the store or by giving some change when I have it, but I like to do it on my terms and only when I have a bit of extra cash.

These chuggers outside the door to the store used the tactic 'can you sign up to donate to Dogs Trust?' I said no thank you and then he shouted out 'What? You mean you can't spare a few pennies to stop a dog being killed?'

I was fuming and complained to the store manager, apparently they had a contract with Morrisons to be there and there was nothing he could do, however I think a large number of people complained and within half an hour they were gone. They do reappear occasionally but now they stand to one side and don't say anything unless you approach them.

gingin_2

I wrote an email to one charity, I think it was action aid, after seeing the chuggers behaving so badly with a couple of elderly people and they at least did take it seriously and ask for a description of the guys and said it would be dealt with.

They cornered one elderly gentleman so he couldn't get out without having to ask the chugger to move and then despite one very polite, elderly lady telling another chugger that she was on a basic state pension and couldn't afford it he kept pestering her, to the point where I felt I had to interfere and tell him to bog off.

I live in chuggerville, they pester people 100m from my house so I have to face it almost every day. I have no time or patience for them. Action aid said there are supposedly strict guidelines that they are expected to follow, such as keeping a certain distance apart which I never see followed through. I am normally pretty mild mannered but with chuggers I can quite easily lose it if they don't accept "no thank you" as my first answer.